PDF to XML: How to Convert PDF to XML for Free

Last Updated: July 22, 2024
convert pdf to xml

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Easily Extract Data From PDFs

Automate manual data entry tasks with Docparser

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This post covers how to use Docparser for PDF to XML conversion. You’ll learn why converting PDF to XML is usually a challenging task and how easy it is to convert PDF to XML with Docparser.

If you’re in business, there’s a good chance you deal with PDFs regularly. But what if you need to convert PDF to XML? Luckily, there are a few different ways to do this.

In this post, we’ll explore a few of the most popular methods for converting PDFs to XML. Whether you’re looking to make your PDFs more accessible or just wanting to open them in a different program, read on to learn how to convert PDFs to XML. 

Convert PDF to XML

Save time and automatically convert PDF data to XML format.


Try Docparser for free. No credit card required. 

How to convert PDF to XML with Docparser

PDF to XML conversion is easy with Docparser. The basic steps for getting started are:

1. Create a free account.

2. Create a document parser for each type of PDF document you want to process.

pdf to xml convert3. Upload more documents of the same type manually or through our integration options.

convert pdf xml files

4.Obtain the parsed data as XML files or let Docparser send the extracted data directly to your API with webhooks.

Sounds complicated? It isn’t. Have a look at our introduction screencast to see how easy it is to set up Docparser:

Our PDF parsing tools allow you to set unique filters and rules to extract exactly the data you need and convert it to XML. Options range from table row parsing to text search in variable locations on PDFs. Additionally, our smart filters allow you to format data along the way. Our flexible architecture allows you to chain up multiple text manipulation filters until your data is precisely in the format you need it to be.

Once you have your layout parser set up and properly extracting the data you want, it’s time to create an XML download link. Simply go into the Docparser app, and navigate to the “Download Links,” as seen below. You will be prompted for a Name and the specifics you would like to include in your download.

That’s it; you will see this download, along with any others that you have created for this layout parser. Want additional flexibility moving your PDF data? Check out our API or contact us.

Why Converting PDF to XML is not as easy as it sounds

pdf to xml

PDF documents are ubiquitous, and PDF is the go-to format for exchanging data between business entities. However, accessing the data stored inside PDF data is a challenging task to automate. PDF was basically invented to be a replacement for traditional paper documents. While the PDF standard guarantees the exact same visualization on any device, it does not provide structuring tags (as we know it from formats like HTML) which would allow a computer to easily ‘understand’ the data.

In other words, the visual representation of the data inside a PDF document is usually the only data stored inside a document. This means that PDF documents don’t allow to ‘just export’ all data in a structured way and save it to another format like XML, CSV, Excel, and more. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about PDF to XML Converters

Can I convert PDF to XML with Docparser?

Yes, absolutely. As long as you sign up for a free account, you can start parsing your PDFs in minutes. 

Can I convert XML to PDF with Docparser? 

Unfortunately, you can only convert documents from PDF, DOC, DOCX, and formats like ONG, JPEG, and TIFF to XML and not the other way around. XML files are essentially text code, so there’s no way to render a PDF from this.

What is Docparser?

Docparser is a cloud-based document parser and automation tool. You can upload PDF, DOC, DOCX, and image file types to Docparser, extract the data, and then covert the data to the format of your choice like Excel, CSV, JSON, and more. You can also send your documents to our integration partners.

What is XML? 

XML (extensible machine language) is an international standard for exchanging data that both humans and machines can read. It was created in 1998 to promote simplicity, generality & usability across the internet with its goal being to make information more accessible than before through easy-to-use formats like HTML (Hypertext Markup Language)

Convert PDF to XML

Save time and automatically convert PDF data to XML format.


Try Docparser for free. No credit card required. 

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Easily Extract Data From PDFs

Automate manual data entry tasks with Docparser

No credit card required